Method and machine for twisting crank shafts



1930. H. M; WOLFE ET AL 1,778,879

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR TWISTING GRANKSHAFTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BYY 'A TTORNEY.

Oct. 21, 1930. H. M. WOLFE E L METHOD AND MACHINE FOR TWISTING CRANKSHAFTS Filed March 2, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lmm W E 0 mm Oct. 21, 1930. H. M.'WOLFE ET AL 1,778,879

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR TWISTING GRANKSHAFTS Filed Marc 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 21, 1930. H.'M. WOLFE ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR TWIS'IING 'CRANKSHAFTS Filed March 2, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 21, 1930. H. M. WOLFE Er AL 1,778,879

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR TWI-STING CRANKSHAFTS Filed March 2, 1927 5.Sheets-Sheet 5 I A? 20 g/ v H W W? Corr/gm /c/n/ iPatented 0a. 21.1930

HEN Y M. wee-sliaiiirconnfiie'ron ap niononor Mtsxneon; ,MIoIifeAm Assame ro CONTINENTAL Morons cofRroRA'rIo or DETROITi IC IGA A CORPORATION V or VIRGINIA" Application: fil iv i' j Thi i ti "relates to; the metal "work;

mg artv and refers more particularly to a method-and machine for ,use"inthe,manufactnre of crankshafts,' especially where'it' is "desirable to twist one or more of the cra kshaft throws into position.

Among the objects of our invention is the a ted efficiently at low cost :"andbeingsube stantially automatic in its f operation requires very little attention'o'n the part of the op eratori i j J One feature'bfbur invention resides in the provision of means whereby a portion of the crankshaft 'to' be twisted, iS automate Cally clamped by the twistinglmechani'sin under remote control,- no manual attendance being I necessary to' 'operate this portion. of the'mechanism. we believe this featureas well as other features which will be described hereinafter, to be broadly novel in this art. One convenientfiembodimentof our invention has been shown our accompanyingdrawings in which the operator need only move a controlso a sito cause the clamping deviceto automatically, clamp a portion 10f the crankshafawsuch" portion after the clamping operation. being twisted by? the clampingdevicea We have illustrated our invention; in con nectionjwith a seve r bearing six throw crankshaft althonghflit 'will be understood that: our method. and. machine is equally adapted to varioust'ype's and styles of crankshafts "v'aryingin the nu'mbenof the throws and bearings-formation of. the cheeks, counterweighting, and in the part cular throws to be twisted'.

Further features of our invention :re'side in the particular arrangements and combitam-1mtlie'; verifies pertsnf the machine METHOD "AND- AICHiNEroR rwIsTINe CRANK swims] 1927; Sa a; No. 171,945.-

which and toward f'siinpl icity tenancy;

and economy... I F 3 Qurmethodxdisclosed and described here-Y in'is, claimed in our copendi'ng divisional application S. 1929. Beferri'ngfto the in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts,

Fig; 1" isa sideelevationofour machine .accompanyingidrawing's showing thetwisting mjechanism in acl li bi ing' po'sition' fabont i to, commence its twisting operation;

pletion ofits' twisting jstroke;

' Fig. 8 is aside View, ofthe other twisting a element; c

- F g. 9' 1sa fro nt View thereof,

- 4 Fig.10 is a perspective View of the bell crank formin'gthe v 'connection between the twisting elements, I i I Fig; 11 isia'n end view ofthe crankshaft bee 'fo'rethetwisting-operation. Fig. 12 is alike view of thefgompleted crankshaft after the tw'isting operation, and

I Fig. 2, v elevation 0f the v showing thet'wisting mechanismiat the mm 3 is a;plan "viewof the machine wilth the cylinder, associated withthe crankshaft Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the crankshaft shown in Fig. 12.

' In carrying out-' our' invention we" prefer to first'forge in one or'moreoperations certain of the a crank throws into their final "positions,

simultaneously fashioning all of the throws,

throws in apositionto be twisted. I vflraakshaftsan general may ordinarily be cheeksy-an'd bearings with certain of'the rangement of throws forged in position as completely forged in position but a saving in the cost and machining operations, as well as other advantages, is brought about by our in vention. In the instance of the particular. crankshaft illustrated reference character A represents the shaft havingthe throws 1-6 inclusive, bearings 7-13 inclusive, and cheeks 1425 inclusive. 'The throws in this type of crankshaft are ordinarily arranged as shown in Figsx'1-2, and 13,;the pairs; of throws indi cated being 120 apart. shown the crankshaftwith our preferred arwill readily be understood. Thus the crankshaft before operation of-the twisting Inachine has the throws l, 6, 2, 5. forged in their vultimate respective positions, the throws 3,4

7 being fashioned during the forging operation. preferably substantially 90 from their ultimate positions as shown in Figs. 12 and. 13. If desired, these'throw s 3, 4 might be forged in other positions, for ultimate swing- V ing ortwisting, but we prefer to locate these thestock might befirst cut to desired length, heated suitably for working, subjected to an then subjected to the twistingoperation by throws as indicated. a r

In producing the forging shown in Fig. 11

edger operation to roughly fashion the crankshaft throws in --a single plane, "all of'these i steps being well known in the art. The forg 7 ing might then be'subjected-to forging :diesto produce; the. crankshaft shown in Fig;-1'1. This forging might thenbe trimmed to remove the excess metal at the die parting line and then restruckto remove excess draft to facilitate machining although this latter: step is not deemed necessaryfor a successful production of crankshafts' Thecrankshaft is our machine whereby throws 8, 4 are swunginto their properrelative positionsshown in Figs. 12 and 13. The crankshaft may'then be restruck in the well known mannerto further insure proper alignment of the various elements ofthefcrankshaf-t. We have found however that our twisting machine operates to such a'de'greeof accuracy that. the restrikling operation might well be dispensed with,

such operation being desirable from a standpointof further insuring that the shaft is in alignment. The entire method as outlined maybe accomplished in one heating of the metal, ourv twisting 'machinebeing capable of speedily receiving, twisting,and discharging thecrankshaft. y

' e will-now describe our improvedtwist' @ing'machinein detail. This machine comprises a main casting B having abed126 receivi'nglower fixedholding elements. 27, 28

= respectively'cooperating with upper'relative- .ly'movable holding elements 29, 30.- These pairs of holding-elements are preferably formed with suitable recesses and projections conforming with'the' surface contour of the end :pairs of throws :with associated: cheeks In Fig. 11 we have and bearings whereby upon downward movement of the upper holding elements the crank shaft is firmly held with the center throws 3, 4 exposed for twisting preferably as a unit about bearings 9 and 11. g r i g For controlling the movement ofthe holding' elements 29 and 30 any suitable mechanism might be provided. For example, we

have provided a head 31 slidable' vertically aboutthe point'of. swinging.34. When it'is' desired to holdthe crankshaft in position for a twisting operation, fluid under pressure,

conveniently air, is admitted from supply i pipe 42 to the forward side of piston 38, the airbeing controlled in anysuitable manner such as'by a two way valve Cof ordinary suitable. commercial design... Thuslbyi moving valve handle 41, air passes from the Ivalve to the pipe 42? leading to the inside, of :the

cylinder to theforward side offtheipist on. Simultaneously, the; movement of handle 41 serves to exhaust any fluid behind the pis ton by way ,ofexhaustpipe 43. The pipes 42 and 43' also function-respectiyelyas ex haust and inlet. pipes ,uponlprope'r actuation of the handle 41, a suitable vent being provided for thefexhaust-ed. air at the valve C thevalve are not important since anyfwell known suitable -valVe .-might be used] .I In order to hasten the movement of the piston pipe 44 controlled by. ava-lve Dsuitably operated at the proper time from handle 41 as byalink45. Y 1 g A-second air cylinder 46 is provided, likewise pivoted at 47 to afford a pivotal moveorjotherconvenient point. The details of 38 WE-llZI-VQPIOVldGd 311 auxillary exhaust:

ment about a horizontal a xisf Within this cylinder is located an operating piston-47* which may be similarin construction with he piston 38. This piston actuatesthe pistonvr'od 48pivoted by a. pin 49 between the forked end"5.0 .of "bellicranki lever E, the latter being pivoted-by'apin ol'carried between the arms 52 of theclamping twisting element or base-F. The other end 53 of bell 1 crank E operates between the forks 54 of the 1 complementary clampingtwisting element or cap G, a pin 55 establishing pivotal connec tion of these parts by; reasonofpin bearings 56and 57: =Theend 53 has ja face 58 engageable with a facer59 of 'element'G in one direction of rocking of the bell cranli'and likef cooperating faces 60 and 61 areproyi'ded for engagementin the other direction of rocking of the bell crank. The complementary clamping twisting-elements :F and G'together v provide a twistingg 'block.'

The element: F-:is formed-with flanges or ttrunnions ,62 having ajrotatable bearing 63 in a block 64::fiXed with respect to the bed'ofthe machine. The element G has a, clamping twisting face for-overlyingandi'cooper'at ingwith the clamping twistingface 66, 'these faces, like the: holding elements 27', 29 to} .gether conforming j with the surface contour 'of the crankshaftsoi asftocooperate to enclose-the portion {of the crank shaft ig b :twisted.

I ;-With the ins inthe asitibfihbwniil Fig. le-thelforgedcrankshaft, ready for the twisting operation, may z-be placed in the ina chineythe faces of theholding members 27; i 28' and clamping twisting element F provide ing' for nesting" of the crankshaft therein, [as

.vtillvahe readilyunderstoo-d. 5 Itawill be noted thatthezelement 1G is locate'dclear from in terference with placenieritofthe crankshaft-.- -The lever A1 is actuated to produce a :lower-v v ing :of the head J31 Whereby 't-hecrankshaft :ends'arefirmlygripped.' i Airis thenintroduced at the rear; of cylinden-4'6 by movement of:hand lever" 67, acting through a valvec'gtoadmit air from supply line'68xto outlet. 69. The first-apart ofthe -,1no.vem'ent (if-piston frod AS-"to the left (as shown in Figslland- 4: swings the bellcranl; -E counterclockwise 011' its pivot 51, swinging element Gxinto "the position shown Fig-d, without movement of gtheselement :which Y aofi'ers. greatery-resistance ato :movement-because -of engagementby the crankshafh, As" soon,

:however,; as the element :G has been'swung to engage the crankshaft, this relative position of the twisting clamping":elements being shown in Fig. 1,"-c ontinuedmovementof the piston rod 4:8:will swing the elernei'ltsgll" G, clockwise within bearing 63, through an arc ofv90' twistingand positioningthe throws 3, 4' in a position '120 Ff-roin ithenother throws as shown'in-Figsfi, :12'w-andii13.

, In 6 order to accuratelygylimit the-angular twisting movement {of the crankshaft twist ingz elements so as: to :Vac'curatel'ytwist *the' throws .throughithe exact: desired :angle; we, have provided one or; more adjustable stops a-engageable; with the element-F; Before rotating thei twisting, gelements back to"; the

initialn position-it is desirable-to arrange the return movement :ofitheiactuating piston, so

as: to" first hold-element .F fixed yuntigl element -Gf-is nn'ov'ed; free from the crankshafuwheree upon 'both clamping elements may berotated free ;:from engagement with i'the twisted (crankshaft. To} this enfd :a latch 71? is wp'iuoted at 72'toa' fixed bracket;73,,thejlatch being urgedupwardlyhy spring; {ii-soars to automatically engage the latch nose 75 in a recess 76 intheilower fend "o'f 'ione or both of the illIIlSifiQ 0 f. tWiSfiiilgiQlQlHfifitfF.

Whenthe twisting operationis completed,

swung entirely clear ofazthe crankshaft into .a position relative'to the element Fas shown in Fig. i, although it''will beunderstoodithat in-this figure the endo'fthe return'str-oke has" been reached This swinging movement of element G'may'be liliiited byfengagement of shoulders 77%onthe arms 77' of the angle stops 77 se'curedalong the edges of=arms*5'2 of element ,F "as-best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.. I I JT-hisinitialipo'rtion of the return stroke, after 1 latch 71 has held elemental stationary while element'G has swung clear of the crankshaft,

into contact with the 111979 wherebyf when the element-G'h as cleared the crankshaftgthe latch7-l will be tripped against the' action of spring. 745*1110Vi11g the nose'75- clear of-the recess76. Continued movement oft-hepiston "moves a trip 78, carried by the 'bellcrankl-lfi rod will then swing the-elementsFand .G

counterclockwise intofithe position shown in Fig. 5% ready to receiveanother crankshaft.' I 80 srepresentsxastop, preferably adjustable, 1 I j havingian: end,81 within the ey'l inder for I alimiting'the' rearward:movelnent offrthe piston within; cylinderlfi. "During this 'return' .movementrthe'throws 3,4?having been twisted upwardly; the clampingtwistingelements return entirely clear of the crankshaft,'which isfstill preferably held by the end holding .elementsf" ,v The holding elements'may then'bereleased I l from engagementlwith then-crarflrashafiz by I suitably moving, I the valve lever" 41 to cause F aeration, "if desired] Throughout the: entire method ofoperations'ithe crankshaft bearings arepreferably'aligned'atalltimes. 2; o v will'thusbe:noited that we havelprovided ya'novel method'of forming c rankshaitsr,I Our piston 88 to moveslide3Igupwardlyi iThe i twisted ,crankshaft-maythen be removed'from i I u I o vI i V :the machme sand suhgected toa restr1-k1ng:0p

nachine for. performing the twistingiojoera and other features of. ourinvention. m-Am-ong manner: in "which we 7: effect an "automatic idea is simply -c'onstruoted ;and%-is especially. 7 adapted-for quickly: and aceuratelvltwisting F I the-desired throws. j Ifadhsired other-power. 3 0 means may b'earranged.for'rcausing'move- V v v ,j'mentof theholding,and.clam-pingelements l :andthescope of our invention:isnot-intended tobe limited t'o"the'specificshowingofthese V w;

1125*,1 the features of novelty ofiour Inachineiis'the {clampingiof oneror more of'the throvvswith v ='r;eut requlring anrattendantto manually,a'p-

iplyf or tlockaithej clampingmeehanis1nw{* Eur- 2139 i I i lso , thermore by simply operating the power contwisting mechanism.

trol, our-machine automatically applies the.

twisting clamp'and then produces the twisting operation; Another feature of novelty resides in the latch mechanism whichis automovement of the matically responsive to Ouranachme and method may he conveniently-adapted to many other styles of: crankshafts than the particular style illns.-'

trated. 'ltisnto hennderstood that thehold- .-ing and twisting elements are provided with faces 'fashioned'like dies to cor espondto the contour of the cranl-:shaftto he twisted; also it may be found desirable'to twistother of the throws into final position; {Certain features ot our machine could beincorporated to advantage where apluralltv of twisting units are employed, each 01' which could be caused to antomaticalb clampl'anditwistthe desired por'tionsof the crankshaft. Our'inventionis applicable to crankshafts having aplurality of throwsand wherein it is desiredto ultil mately fashion and positionfthe throws at a 5011s throws'might' be forged'in-a common relativelyfangular position: Thus the variplane with certain-of the throws outo fthe nltimate desired p'o sitionand finallytwisted into proper relation by one orimorepairs of our twistingclamp'ing elements. H A What'we claimas our-"invention s? a '11 :A crankshaft "twisting machine com; prising hold ngumeans for. a crankshaft,

- twisting means forrotating'athrowofi the; 735

' including a twisting elementl power means .forIactuating said't-wisting means, and a latch crankshaft about" the axis of the crank shaft mechanism en'gagealole with said twisting "means in the finaltwisting posltion thereof to releasably hold the twisting mechanism 111 a'predetermined position;

2; A I crankshaft twistlng machine comprising holding means for a crankshaft,

means in the final twisting position thereoi to releasably hold the twisting mechanism in a predetermined position, and meansrespon' s ive' to a return movement'of said twisting im echanism from theffinal twisting position said latch mechanism.

toward the initial position for disengaging w A; crank haft] twisting" machine com prising holding ineans for acrankshaft and twist ng means for iangularly' sw nging throw of sand crankshaft s'aidsmeans ncluding a rotatable clampingtwisting element, a

cooperating fclampinfg twisting -"ele'ment,

power means adapted to swing one oif-said twisting mechanism.

for engaging the first elementat the completion of the twisting operation, and means responsive to a predetermined swinging move- .ment of the seco'nd'element away from the nism.

4. Crankshaft twisting in} clnding firstjeleme'nt' a secondielement,

connecting means for iSELlCl elements permit.

ting their combined rotation; relative movement toward or :from each other,,j power; means,. means connecting: the power "means I and said mechanism to rotate said elements together inopposite directions, said power so means whenac'tin'g in onefdirection serving tofirst move'sa d elements-relatively toward each other andthen torotate said elements td;

gether; and latch- *inechanism "-'engageabl e l withthe twisting mechanism aftersa prede,, termmed angular movement'of'saldie'lements.

5. Crankshafttwisting mechanism inc'lud-' ing a first element,a second element, connect- -1ng means for said feleme'ntspermltting' thelr combined rotat onfand relative movement toward or fromeacjh' other; power means a'neans connectin'gthe' bower means and sa1dmecha .nism to} rotate said elements together in opfposite' directions, said power means; when acting in one directionjservingto firs'tniove said "elements relatively -tow-jar'd each other and then to rotater s'aid elements'together,

"said power means wh n actinginfthe' opposite dlrection serving to first move' said elements relatively from each other and then to rotate said elements;v an'dw 'lat'ch mechanism for f releasably holdin the twisting j mecha r elementsintl 'e direction first aforesaid;

6. Crankshaft twisting" ,mechanism 7 including alfirstelementja secondelement, connecting meansforsaid elements permitting their combined "rotation and relative movement toward "or, from each other power means, meansiconnecting" thefpower means and said mechanismftov-rotate said elements together iniopposite directions; said power.

means when acting in onedirection serving together, "Said p w mean henacti in said elements relatively; from-each other and.

then to rotate said elements; latch mechanism. for, releasably fholdin the twisting 1 mechanismf after 1 a yoredeter'rnined rotation:

' ln 'testimony"whereofliwe aifixi'onr sigma, tnref M elements towardtheother to clamp the said throw andt'orotate saidelementstogether-asf 1 a unit to twist saidthrow, latchn lechanisin f ofsaidelementsin thedirectio'n firstafomf Q saidfand means responsiveto' a"predeter mined movement of'safid elements from each other) for disengaging; said latch from the 

